Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), has once again stirred controversy with a social media post, this time targeting a teenager's serious immigration case. His attempt at humour has drawn a sharp and thoughtful response from the young woman at the centre of the storm.
Musk's Controversial 'Joke' on X
On Sunday, the 54-year-old Tesla and SpaceX CEO commented on the situation of Audrey Morris, a 19-year-old American student who faced deportation from Denmark, her home since childhood. Musk wrote on his platform, "8 or above level hotness should get an exemption," adding a crying-laughing emoji to suggest it was a joke.
The post quickly gained traction, adding a layer of unwanted sensationalism to Morris's already stressful legal battle. Musk, known for his prolific and often polarising posts, typically garners headlines and heated comment sections, but this time the subject of his remark decided to answer back directly.
Audrey Morris's Grounded Response
Audrey Morris, who turned 19 in August, found the tech magnate's comment shocking. Speaking to The Daily Beast, she expressed her dismay. "Yeah, it’s definitely crazy," Morris said. She noted that from the moment her case became public, the focus shifted to her appearance because she is blonde and white, rather than her merits.
"The thing he said in of itself wasn’t shocking to me, but coming from him, yes, it was definitely...I was floored," she added. Morris highlighted how the discourse ignored her academic achievements, volunteering record, and her life growing up in Scandinavia.
She pointed out that Musk had a platform to make a constructive difference. "It would’ve been really cool if he commented something like, ‘Oh wow, look how many academic things she’s reached,’ or whatever. That would’ve been great. It could have been so helpful," Morris stated. However, she concluded pragmatically, "[But] if this just at least brings it to the attention of anyone who cares, then I’m fine with being embarrassed a little bit."
The Deportation Case: What Actually Happened?
The facts of Morris's case are complex and serious. The American teen, whose family moved to Denmark in 2015 when she was nine so her mother could pursue a PhD, was living there as an "accompanying child" on her mother's permit. Her residency permit expired in June 2024.
Complications arose when she moved to a high school dorm in a different city and changed her address, which violated the conditions of her temporary residency. The threat of deportation was so real that she made plans to return to the US alone, leaving her family and boyfriend behind.
Ultimately, she avoided immediate deportation and was granted a 10-year residency permit. However, she was denied Danish citizenship, even though her American mother and 15-year-old brother received it. "I have my grandparents and some friends in the USA. But Denmark is my home. One hundred percent. I am as Danish as a foreigner can possibly be," she told Stifstidende in January.
A Twist of Irony: Musk's Own Deportation History
In a twist of irony, Elon Musk himself has faced threats of deportation from the United States. In June 2025, former President Donald Trump suggested he would "take a look" at sending Musk back to his native South Africa following a public fallout. The two later reconciled, and the billionaire continues to reside in the US.
This incident underscores the power and peril of social media platforms, especially when controlled by influential figures. While Musk's comment was intended as a joke, it redirected attention from a nuanced immigration issue to superficial attributes, a move firmly corrected by the articulate and resilient teenager it targeted.
